Eels give Sharks the slip in shut out

Parramatta have produced their best defensive display of the season and moved to three points out of the top eight with a convincing 30 points to nil victory over the Cronulla Sharks.

In the second shut out match of the round, Parramatta showed steeley resolve on their goal line, withstanding multiple sets on their own line and continually frustrating the Sharks attack into forcing the ball, more often than not resulting in an error.

In and around the fantastic defensive effort, the Eels also put on a great attacking display, with star fullback Jarryd Hayne featuring heavily, as did rookie halves Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer.

The Eels' first try came off a Hayne bust and Mortimer kick resulting in a goal line dropout, with Joel Reddy showing great strength to plant the ball down on the line in the corner before going over the line in the sixth minute.

The Eels were over again in the 25th minute, however referee Bernard Sutton had his doubts and video replays proved that Krisnan Inu had knocked the ball forward into Luke Burt on his way to the line.

Ten minutes later and there was no denying Hayne, who caught the markers sleeping on the goal line, diving over from dummy half for the simplest of tries to take the Eels into half time with a lead of ten points to nil.

The Sharks came out firing in the second half, with returning captain Paul Gallen featuring heavily in the opening set as the Sharks went 80 metres and close to scoring to get them back into the match.

It wasn't to be, though, as the Eels extended their lead in the 44th after Burt received a fortuitous bounce off a kick and passed back inside for Inu to cross over under the posts.

Cronulla continued to threaten, however when down in Parramattas red zone found themselves unable to break through the blue and gold brick wall, and instead continuously tried to go around, but to no avail.

Hayne sealed the victory for the visitors with a simple hit and spin move in the 61st, before Reddy completed his brace seven out from full time following a long bust from, you guessed it, Hayne.

Todays victory sees the Eels move to 21 points, three away from an unlikely top eight position, while the Sharks remain entrenched in their battle with the Roosters to avoid the wooden spoon, saved for now by their superior for and against.

Good afternoon and welcome to Toyota Park for todays clash between the Cronulla Sharks and the Parramatta Eels.

Both of these teams went into season 09 with high hopes and expectations, however come into round 21 sitting at 15th and 12th respectively on the ladder. The Sharks are all but out of finals contention, and will be playing to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon, which they are currently in a dogfight with the Roosters for. The Eels, having started the season poorly, have strung some very convincing games together lately, with Jarryd Hayne and Fuifui Moimoi featuring heavily in their revival, and are only a couple of wins out of the top eight.

Team changes are as follows:
Sharks: Johnny Mannah has been ruled out. Luke Douglass pushes up to prop from second row and Paul Gallen makes his return in number 18.
Eels: The Eels are as per programme, one through seventeen.

6 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Grothe offloads to Reddy, who shows a great amount of strength to place the ball down on the line before going into touch. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt unsuccessful.
Parramatta Eels 4-0

11 min: Reece Williams has copped a heavy knock in a tackle and is being assisted from the field. It looks doubtful that he'll be back today.

13 min: Millington charged down Mortimers kick, which was then regathered by Lowrie, giving the Eels a fresh set starting on halfway.

17 min: Porter attempts a little chip over the line, but Hindmarsh is there to regether and make a little half break before being taken down.

18 min: PENALTY - Eels: Cronulla hold down too long in the tackle, and the Eels have a fresh set inside the Sharks red zone.

19 min: An early grubber by Robson is grounded in goal by Stapleton. Back to back sets for the Eels.

20 min: A terrible pass from Inu leaves Hindmarsh with the ball on the last, forcing him to kick to the corner where it is easily collected by Ferguson.

21 min: 40/20 - Sharks: Blake Green puts his team in great position to get on the scoreboard with a lovely kick.

23 min: Cronulla fail to capitalise on their great field position, going too far side to side before a poor kick from Stapleton trickles into Hindmarsh's hands.

24 min: PENALTY - Eels: To add insult to injury the Sharks have now been penalised for being offside.

25 min: VIDEO REF - Possible Eels Try...
Burt has run over behind the posts for a try, just checking to see if Inu has touched the ball forward.

25 min: NO TRY - PTB Sharks: Inu has been ruled to knock the ball on, handing the ball over to the Sharks on their ten metre line.

26 min: PENALTY - Sharks: More good field position for the Sharks...will they be able to capitalise this time?

27 min: Matt Wright collects the high ball on the last, but loses it forward in trying to force it loose.

27 min: Ben Smith has lost the ball in trying to play it, giving the Sharks yet another chance...a chance that they immediately bomb as Gallen runs down the shortside off the scrum and passes the ball to the touchjudge.

31 min: Keating made a half break then passed back inside to Hayne who was unable to take the ball. Scrum Sharks on their 40 metre line

34 min: PENALTY - Eels: Norrie and SeuSeu have tackled Hayne well after he kicked the ball through, giving the Eels a perfect chance to build on their lead before half time.

37 min: PENALTY - Eels: Sharks have stripped the ball with two in the tackle, and Parramatta will get one last chance to get over the line before half time.

38 min: Burt has crossed in the corner, but the pass from Inu has been ruled forward.

HALF TIME
It's half time here at Shark Park, where the visiting Eels lead the home side by 10 points to nil. While the Eels have enjoyed the majority of field position and possession, the Sharks have had their chances to get on the board, only to be let down by poor handling or poor options in attack. There's still plenty of time left in this match, however at this point it looks as though an Eels victory is the best bet. Stay tuned, the second half isn't too far away!

40 min: And we're back underway!

41 min: The Sharks look to have come out firing, with some enterprising second phase play getting them down to the Parramatta ten on their first set of the second half.

43 min: A great clearing kick from Porter turned into a horrible was as the ball come down on the Parramatta twenty but then continued to roll well over the dead ball line.

44 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
The Sharks have now been burnt by two kicks in a row, this time when Keating's kick from dummy half bounced up on it's point and into the arms of Burt, who flicked it back inside to Inu who strolled over for the try. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta Eels 16-0

49 min: Porter dribbled the ball behind the line for himself however it has been collected by Mortimer to get the Eels out of trouble as the Sharks have been looking dangerous.

51 min: Cronulla had a great chance on the right hand side, however Afamasaga's pass goes behind Covell, causing the play to break down.

53 min: Porter chips early to the wing for Wright, however the ball bounces back into the hands of Millington who immediately kicks ahead where the ball is collected and grounded in-goal by Hindmarsh. Goal line dropout.

54 min: Cronulla had received another set following a strip by the Eels, however one play later Snowden tried to force the pass, handing it back to the Eels.

56 min: PENALTY - Sharks: Parramatta guilty of trying to slow the play the ball down, and the Sharks will get yet another look at Parramattas red zone.

57 min: Hughes dribbles the kick through on the last and Lowrie knocks on in attempting to gather it up. Scrum Sharks.

58 min: Once again, Cronulla try to force the pass and once again it ends up in the hands of the Eels.

59 min: PENALTY - Eels: Now they've given away a penalty for a two man strip. Parra with a fresh set on halfway.

60 min: Stapleton collects the kick through just in front of his posts, but is forced back into the in goal under a tremendous tackle by Ben Smith.

61 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
Hayne spins out of a tackle and plants the ball over the line, sealing the victory for the Eels. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta Eels 22-0

65 min: Porter kicks again to the wing of Wright, but once again the ball bounces off it's point, this time into the waiting arms of Inu, who saw a bit of space before passing to Burt who gets shut down immediately.

66 min: PENALTY - Eels: Cronulla up inside the ten, and Burt will take the shot at goal.

71 min: NO TRY - Penalty Sharks: Moimoi has run alongside Kingston and taken out at least two (and possibly more) defenders at the line, resulting in an obvious penalty.

73 min: TRY Parramatta Eels
An errant offload inside their own twenty has proved fortuitous as Hayne collected the ball and ran straight through the staggered Sharks defensive line, racing 60 metres before finding Inu, who found Hayne on the wrap-around and was eventually taken down 10 out from the Sharks line. On the ensuing play the Eels went from sideline to sideline for Reddy to grab his double. Conversion attempt by Luke Burt successful.
Parramatta Eels 30-0

FULL TIME
It's full time here at Toyota Park, where the Parramatta Eels have shut out the home team to the tune of 30 points to nil.